The new SanPiN for pediculosis in 2022 defines the rules, the procedure for preventive measures, and the algorithm for treatment for pediculosis. The same document lists the rules for the prevention of scabies, the abdominal type, which is spread by lice. The joint venture on typhus and pediculosis and scabies is mandatory throughout the Russian Federation.
Algorithm for treating a patient with pediculosis
Lice are small blood-sucking parasites, which, depending on the species, are localized in the scalp, intimate areas, and on clothing. Due to their tiny size, it may be impossible to identify bloodsuckers at the initial stage of the disease. At first, when the population size is small, people sometimes have no idea about the presence of lice. This is why pediculosis is often discovered in health care facilities or during emergency hospitalization at the initial appointment. How do employees of medical institutions act in such cases, how is treatment for head lice carried out and whether the patient’s consent is required for the procedure.
Features of prevention in children
Scabies cannot go away on its own, and if left untreated for a long time, the disease will become chronic. Treatment is aimed at eliminating the mite and its eggs through the use of special aerosols. As for preventing this condition, there are several features:
- in the case of an epidemic outbreak, quarantine is carried out in the kindergarten;
- sick children are isolated and treated with a complex of approved drugs;
- Children who have not yet been exposed to this mite are prescribed preventive therapy.
Causes of lice in children
There are many opinions about the nature of lice on the human hair and body. These include chronic diseases, poor hygiene and even stress. However, the main and almost the only reason is direct infection . Lice can only be transmitted from someone, but in no case appear out of nowhere on their own; lice do not appear from stress, nerves or hepatitis.
Pediculosis can be contracted through any contact with an infected person, or through an item with which he has recently been in contact.
There is an opinion that lice, like fleas, can jump and move from person to person, jumping on heads. This is wrong. Infection can occur through contact. Cases of infection often occur in cinemas, fitting rooms or on public transport.
Kindergarten and other institutions are the most favorable places. With a large gathering of children, the risk increases significantly.
No matter how much you care for your baby, you cannot deprive him of contact with other children. Therefore, check your child’s hair regularly after playing with friends, especially if there has been contact with children from disadvantaged families. It is much easier to treat pediculosis at an early stage than in its advanced form.
It is worth remembering that lice is not a disease of a dirty head. Adult parasites feel great on clean skin.
In what cases is processing carried out?
Pediculosis is usually detected in the emergency department at the sanitary inspection station. If it is possible to detect adult lice and nits in the hair, an additional examination of personal hygiene items and the patient’s belongings is carried out. The patient is transferred to a closed room and examined on a couch. The procedure for getting rid of lice is carried out in an inpatient department. Disinsection measures include comprehensive measures to destroy parasites in hair, body, and clothing.
Contraindications for treatment may include:
- children under 3 years of age;
- pregnancy, lactation;
- serious condition of the patient;
- a large number of purulent wounds on the skin.
When pediculosis is detected, it is necessary to fill out the appropriate papers in which the patient gives his permission to carry out the procedure. Anti-lice medications are allocated either from the medical fund or purchased at the expense of the patient. The actions of a nurse in case of head lice are limited to preparing and carrying out sanitation, filling out a log in which the data is displayed in table form, and notifying the patient’s relatives.
In cases where lice are detected in children, the health worker reports to the preschool or school institution. According to the new Sanpin on the prevention of lice, an unscheduled inspection is carried out in the class and group, and preventive measures are taken to prevent the spread of lice.
How to treat
To get rid of lice, you need to treat your head with an anti-pediculosis agent and then comb it out.
But there are many means, they are very different. I want to choose something that is effective and safe for the child. Doctors recommend giving preference to dimethicone-based sprays.
Dimethicone is a silicone of synthetic origin, that is, an absolutely non-toxic substance. How does it kill parasites? Purely physically. Dimethicone envelops the insect's body with an impenetrable film, clogs the respiratory system and secretions, and makes it impossible to breathe. Lice die from suffocation and impaired fluid metabolism.
One of the remedies that can be safely recommended to parents for the treatment of head lice in children is “Parasept”. It has a dimethicone base, is absolutely safe, and is recommended for children from one year of age. Available in convenient aerosol or spray form. The product contains natural antiseptics that accelerate the healing of wounds caused by parasites and scratching.
Communication with peers is very important in preschool age. Fear of contracting head lice is not a reason to refuse to attend kindergarten.
Signs of infection
Signs of lice The causative agents of infection are several types of lice:
- head lice;
- linen lice;
- pubic lice.
Parasites feed on human blood, are capable of spreading typhoid fever, and pose a threat to the entire society. The main symptoms of different types of pediculosis are similar to each other, only the location of the parasites differs.
- Head lice parasitize the scalp, live in the scalp, eggs cling to the hairs closer to the roots; you can see what lice and nits look like in the photo.
- Body lice live outside the human body, building nests in folds, seams of clothing, and bedding. They feed about 4 times a day, so they are often found on the human body. Linen lice bites are located on the body and face. They do not live on the head or genitals.
- Pubic lice are most often transmitted through sexual contact. Affects the pubic hair and perineum. With severe infection, parasites are found on the hair of the abdomen, chest, armpits, and eyelashes.
Memo for the administration
To prevent an outbreak of the disease, preventive examinations for pediculosis are carried out in preschool institutions at least once a month.
Be sure to do this after the summer holidays and long weekends. If a child with lice is found in the garden, the administration must:
- inform parents and talk to them about treatment options;
- isolate the child - prohibit him from appearing in the children's group until complete recovery;
- treat the bed linen on which the baby slept in kindergarten;
- if several cases are detected, report to the sanitary and epidemiological station and quarantine for 30 days;
- During quarantine, all children are examined weekly;
- re-examine the child before returning to the child care facility.
Head lice infestations usually occur in kindergartens. But if found, it’s a rare case! - body lice, it is necessary to treat not only bedding, but also cribs, floor coverings, door handles, toys and other objects with which the child may have come into contact.
Parents should treat the baby themselves at home. But the kindergarten staff can (and should) recommend an anti-pediculosis agent that is effective and safe for the child’s body.
How is processing carried out?
Sanitation is carried out in a separate room. It should be well ventilated. The nurse's tactics when performing disinfestation are determined by the degree of infection of the patient, and therefore a treatment regimen for the patient is prescribed. Preparatory work involves performing a number of activities:
- cover the couch with oilcloth material and seat or lay the patient on it, having first put a pearl on him and a tourniquet around the hairline;
- explain to the patient the process of the upcoming manipulation;
- The medical worker conducting the procedure must put on an additional gown, gloves, a mask and prepare all the necessary equipment: anti-pediculosis agent, hair scissors, a basin in 2 copies, bags for disposal and subsequent disinfection, a comb, vinegar.
Anti-pediculosis treatment Treatment algorithm for pediculosis:
- Prepare a solution to kill parasites in accordance with the instructions.
- Consistently treat hair against lice, avoiding contact of the product with mucous membranes and face. Each strand should be processed separately.
- If your hair is long, put it in a bun and cover it with a plastic scarf.
- Maintain exposure according to the drug manufacturer's recommendations.
- After the specified time has passed, rinse off the product with warm water, after removing any remaining product, wash your hair with detergent shampoo and rinse with a vinegar solution.
- After applying the vinegar solution, tie your hair with a plastic scarf and leave it in this state for 15-20 minutes.
- Rinse your hair again with warm water and dry with a towel.
- Place the patient on a chair and place paper on the floor to make it easier to dispose of insects later. Be sure to comb out dead insects and nits using a fine-tooth comb.
- Periodically remove adhering parasites from the comb using a cotton swab soaked in alcohol.
- At the end of the procedure, re-examine the patient and make sure there are no lice and nits.
- If necessary, re-treatment of hair for pediculosis is prescribed.
CHILDREN'S LEDICULOSIS: PROTECTION AND TREATMENT
Previously, insects were a sign of trouble - along with tuberculosis and other diseases.
In the modern world, the appearance of lice indicates contact with an infected person. Insects may appear in children after a trip to camp; the problem may appear in a family after a student attends school and the child is in kindergarten. “Childhood Country” tells you what to do in this case.
The opinion that only socially disadvantaged children suffer from head lice is deeply erroneous.
In childhood, lice are found in approximately every fifth child, regardless of his cleanliness and living conditions. The transfer of lice from a sick child to a healthy child can occur when using general hygiene products, during active outdoor games, etc. Children with long hair that require careful care are most susceptible to lice. Often, the incidence of head lice among children is of the nature of outbreaks in organized groups - the peak incidence occurs in the summer-autumn. MAIN SIGNS OF LICE IN A CHILD
• By biting the skin, insects secrete saliva that is toxic to the human body and prevents blood clotting. Under its influence, severe itching occurs - one of the most pronounced symptoms of lice.
• After lice waste products get on the skin, erythema, vesicles, and papules quickly form. They appear as small red bubbles and are sometimes visualized as bluish spots.
• Nits can masquerade as oily dandruff. But trying to remove whitish scales from hair will not bring the desired result. The nit is tightly attached with a special substance produced by the female insect.
• If you look at your hair for a long time, you can see the movement of lice on the scalp. They are constantly looking for undamaged areas to feed on blood. Adults are yellowish-brown in color and can have a dull glow when pointed at them with a regular table lamp.
IF INFECTION HAS ALREADY OCCURRED, COMMON SLEEPING AND WATER PROCEDURES ARE NOT ALLOWED.
AN INFECTED PERSON SHOULD USE SEPARATE TOWELS AND HYGIENE PRODUCTS. AFTER HYGIENIC PROCEDURES, THE BATH IS SUBJECT TO DISINFECTING. PILLOW CASES ARE CHANGED DAILY WITH SUBSEQUENT HEAT TREATMENT AND WET CLEANING IN THE HOUSE. TREATMENT OF PEDICULOSIS
Medicines for pediculosis are very diverse - these are shampoos, aerosols, sprays and lotions, special ointments, creams, gels, solutions, powders. Most of them are made on the basis of natural and synthetic insecticides: permethrin, pyrethrin, malathion, phenothrin, sumithrin.
Due to the fact that insecticides usually cause allergies in children, some products are made without them, based only on essential plant oils. Herbal preparations have almost no contraindications, so they are safe for the health of children; they can be used to treat pregnant and lactating women, allergy sufferers, asthmatics and patients with skin diseases.
THE SCHEME OF APPLICATION OF PEDICULOSIS REMEDIES IS ABOUT THE SAME
The head is wrapped in a towel at forehead level to prevent caustic substances from getting into the mouth, mucous membranes of the eyes, nose and respiratory tract. The compositions are applied to the hair with gloved hands or a cotton swab with an exposure time of 5, 10, 30, 40 minutes, washed off with warm water, shampoo, a weak solution of table vinegar or citric acid. The procedure is repeated after 7-10 days.
Important addition:
the procedure must be completed with mechanical action on the parasites, which consists of combing them out of the hair using a fine-tooth comb or removing them manually. This is an extremely necessary measure, since no chemical agent acts effectively on nits, therefore, if visually dead eggs are not removed mechanically immediately, then within seven days the child’s lice will appear again.
PREVENTION OF LICE IN CHILDREN IS THE FOLLOWING:
• whenever possible, avoid contact with potentially infected people; • before visiting preschool, school institutions, sections, girls should braid their hair; • conduct explanatory conversations with children, explaining that they should not use other people’s combs or wear other people’s hats; • regularly inspect the head for lice and nits; the inspection is carried out in a well-lit place using a magnifying glass and a comb; • use products with a repellent (deterrent) effect.
You should protect your child from lice thanks to an integrated approach to hygiene, constant parental attention, and reasonable caution. If you suspect head lice, experts recommend consulting a doctor for a professional assessment of your health and prescribing treatment regimens that can be used at home.
NATURAL REMEDIES HAVE THE LEAST NUMBER OF CONTRAINDICATIONS - THEY COVER LICE AND NITS WITH THE THINNEST FILM AND CLOCK THEIR ACCESS TO OXYGEN, DUE TO WHICH THE PARASITES DIE QUICKLY. SYNTHETIC PRODUCTS HAVE A MORE EFFECTIVE INFLUENCE ON PARASITES, BUT THEY CAN BE TOXIC TO HUMANS.
Remedies for head lice
The main substances for killing insects are ovicides (emulsions, shampoos, lotions) for one-time treatment and neocides (shampoos, soaps, etc.) for two-time treatment.
To combat parasites, products such as vinegar, pyrethrum powder, tar soap, and various lotions, such as Nittifor, are used.
The list of preparations intended for disinfestation of things includes soap-kerosene emulsion, concentrates of karbofos, sulfidos, sodium carbonate and others.
Final stage
- burn the paper over which the combing was carried out;
- remove the patient’s clothes and underwear and place them in an oilcloth bag; carry out the same manipulations with the clothes of the nurse who was involved in the treatment;
- send the bags to a disinfection chamber;
- treat the comb with alcohol;
- treat the premises with an insecticidal preparation.
At the end of the procedure, the nurse must fill out a lice examination log and make a corresponding note in the patient’s outpatient record. A re-inspection is carried out after 7 days, and additional treatment is performed if necessary.
In cases where body lice are detected, hygiene procedures are prescribed, and all the patient’s belongings are subject to heat treatment. It is recommended to sanitize the apartment. After removing the parasites, the medical worker conducts explanatory conversations so that the patient cannot get lice again.
How to protect yourself and your children
There are several rules that should be taken into account in order to avoid scabies in your family.
- Use only personal linen, as well as personal clothing, towels, and shoes.
- Take a shower every day using natural care products.
- Change bed linen once a week, and underwear every day.
- Use hot water to wash all personal items.
- After washing, subject all items to heat treatment by thoroughly ironing.
- Trim your nails regularly, because a large number of bacteria accumulate under them, leading to skin pathologies.
- Do not use other people's things, especially toys, gloves, washcloths, towels.
- After each visit to the restroom, walk, and interaction with animals, be sure to wash your hands with soap.
- Regularly carry out wet cleaning in the house.
- Be careful about all hygiene rules when in baths, swimming pools, saunas, and beauty salons.
